Is Slut-Shaming Carrie Prejean Really Necessary?

When Carrie Prejean lost last month’s Miss USA pageant because (some think) she opposed gay marriage, after which she did an ad for the National Organization for Marriage, rather than attending to her Miss California “duties,” she made it pretty clear where her loyalty lies. It makes sense strategically — her anti-gay marriage stance ruined her appeal for many, but it did increase her popularity with a powerful few. Prejean hedged her bets by distancing herself from the Miss California Organization and lining up with those who had her back. She wasn’t going to be a pageant queen forever, after all.

She should have handed over her crown to someone who was interested in fulfilling those Miss California duties — whatever they are — since she had better things to do. But she didn’t and because of that — and Perez Hilton’s relentless campaign against her — Prejean stayed in the spotlight and the inevitable happened. Topless photos! Of a beauty queen! Who believes in God! The hypocrisy! Let the slut-shaming begin!It is, of course, contradictory and convenient that Prejean thinks her God will send the gays straight to hell but welcome her and her exposed titties into heaven. The Miss Universe Organization is clear on the matter — contestants can’t be photographed in a state of partial or complete nudity. At the very least, contestants are expected to be honest about any “skeletons” they may have, but Prejean has been busted lying. Donald Trump will decide if homegirl is losing her crown. Personally, I don’t exactly look to a beauty pageant to reinforce my beliefs about female empowerment.

The media has shifted its focus from an important, relevant issue — gay marriage and whether religion should play a part in how the laws on the matter are written — to something far more salacious. Look! The good Christian girl is a closet whore! Forget about what she actually said — check out her nipples! Gay marriage, what? Do you think there are any photos of her bush, too? What a tramp!

Yes, the photos are evidence of her hypocrisy, and ignoring their existence, once leaked, would be remiss, but some of those throwing stones should remember they’re perched in glass houses. Perez Hilton, Prejean’s biggest enemy, Photoshops semen and penises on photographs of Miley Cyrus, who is underage, and calls her a whore and a slut. His token issue — gay marriage — is personal: he’s gay. He’s moralistic when its his interests, which, in a way, is not so different from Prejean. When it’s Hilton versus Prejean on an issue like gay marriage, no one wins.

UPDATE: Our dream of seeing Prejean dethroned has been thwarted by Trump. He held a press conference this morning to announce his decision to let Carrie keep her crown as Miss California. Trump reasoned, “Carrie is a model, she’s a very successful model … We have determined that the pictures taken are fine.” Prejean tearfully thanked Trump for “believing” in her and, “most importantly,” thanked God. The California pageant officials were prepared to replace Carrie, but Trump is the one with the power to strip a crown. We’re surprised he wasn’t insulted that she said God was more important than him. [US Weekly]